A Scoping Review of Oral Feeding Skill Development in Typically Developing Children Part II: Exploring Variability in Oral Feeding Skill Descriptions.

purposeThis scoping review is the second in a two-part series that aims to synthesize the literature on oral feeding skills development and to create a classification system of observable skills. Building on the findings from Part 1, this article compiles and analyzes the types of feeding skills reported across studies and proposes a framework for standardizing terminology.

methodThe review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Of the 14 studies identified in Part 1 that focused on feeding skill development, 11 included unique skill descriptions. These skills were coded and categorized into three main schemes: texture, oral function, and swallowing phase. Overlapping or redundant skills were critically assessed for their relevance and applicability.

resultsA total of 107 feeding skills were identified, revealing considerable variability in how skills are defined and reported. Categorization by texture, oral function, and swallowing phase highlighted key gaps and inconsistencies in the literature and opportunities for further investigation.

conclusionsThe development of a standardized observational measure, grounded in a core set of feeding skills encompassing texture, oral function, and swallowing phases, would be a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers alike. This framework could improve consistency in assessing feeding development, deepen understanding of underlying physiology, and enable more accurate identification of atypical feeding skills. Future work will aim to refine this skill set to inform the creation of tools for both clinical and research applications.